Spectrum ending on a bangIsar AerospaceContinental Europe’s initial attempt at an orbital space launch came to an unexpected end when Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket returned to Earth with a bang just 30 seconds after takeoff. The rocket crashed and exploded in the Norwegian Sea near the launch pad.Details of the Inaugural Flight from Andøya...
Astronaut Suni Williams on the ISS. (NASA)NASA announced on Tuesday that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will remain on the ISS until at least late March due to an unexpected delay in their return mission. Originally arriving in June aboard Boeing's Starliner for an eight-day stay, issues with the Starliner's propulsion system led NASA...
NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft as seen when it was unveiled at a ceremony earlier this year at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works factory in Palmdale, CaliforniaNASA/Steve FreemanNASA 's X-59 aircraft has been progressing toward its first flight since development began in 2016, with the goal of resurrecting commercial supersonic travel. Next, the agency...
Pilot cam view from Aurora as it reaches 82,500 ftDawn AerospaceThe dream of commercial supersonic flight is inching closer to reality. On November 12, 2024, Dawn Aerospace’s 16-ft (4.8-m) autonomous Mk-II Aurora rocket-powered plane reached Mach 1.1, officially breaking the sound barrier.Since the Concorde’s retirement in 2003, civil supersonic travel has largely faded into...
The new shield will be used on the Dream Chaser winged spacecraftSierra Space/ORNLOak Ridge National Laboratory and Sierra Space Corporation have created an advanced heat shield, inspired by 1980s Space Shuttle technology, to protect reusable spacecraft during reentry.Challenges of Atmospheric Reentry and Advances in Heat Shield TechnologyEarth's atmosphere poses a significant challenge for returning...
Generations Ships would be similar to space habitats designed in the 1970sNASA/Rick GuidiceIf you've ever dreamed of designing a spacecraft to carry humans to another star system over centuries, now's your chance. The Project Hyperion Design Contest encourages teams to develop Generation Ship concepts—self-sustaining vessels built for long-term interstellar travel.Colonizing other planets has often...
The Super Heavy about to be capturedSpaceXThe world watched in awe as SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster made a historic achievement with the first-ever tower capture landing following the Starship 5 mission launch. However, few realized just how close the event came to disaster—within just one second.This capture of Super Heavy, the massive first stage...
Like the CruiseUp concept shown here, CycloTech's BlackBird eVTOL demonstrator will feature six rotorsCycloTechAustrian aerospace company CycloTech has announced its plans to develop a demonstrator eVTOL to showcase its advanced propulsion system designed for electric flight. The company aims to unveil its "BlackBird" flying car by the end of this year, with test flights...
In recent years, space launches, even crewed ones, have become quite frequent, receiving limited attention unless they mark a significant milestone. However, with Monday's Starliner mission, there's a notable surge in interest for valid reasons.As the spacecraft endeavors to depart from the launch pad, it bears considerable responsibility, not only for the safety of...
Credit: PixaobayWith the objective of testing different aspects of the rocket, SpaceX has launched for the 3rd time a flight test of Starship. This time, the stainless-steel rocket and its Super Heavy booster, which together stand 400 feet tall (122 meters) filled with more than 10 million pounds of liquid methane and liquid oxygen...
